First of all, the purpose of this course is to guide students in understanding and reflecting on the philosophical concept of culture, both broadly and narrowly, through the deductive method. Second, students can develop a personal picture of Chinese culture using an inductive approach. This approach will involve the exploration of major cities, local culinary traditions, architecture, daily etiquette, philosophy, religions, spirituality, pieces of literature, paintings, social phenomena, educational systems, music, traditional medicine, history of ideograms, filial piety, films, and others.

Ultimately, the course aims to provide students with a method for cross-cultural comparison and dialogue between China and Italy to deal with cross-cultural unity and diversity wisely and profoundly in future work contexts. In addition, the course provides students with oriental and spiritual tools to discover inner resources to balance the aspect of personal spiritual evolution with social interaction, that is to say, the ability to establish fruitful interpersonal relationships.

It will address the course's significant topics weekly: presentation methods, discussion, and aesthetic contemplation. Therefore, the exam will include both a creative component and a scientific paper:

1. The definition of culture: the perspective of descriptive, socio-historical, philosophical, theological, psychological, genetic, structural, and normative.
2. The progress, decline, and redemption of culture.
3. The relationship between culture and religion.
4. The crises of European and Chinese culture in the contemporary world.
5. China's major cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu.
6. China's foremost universities, with information on scholarships to study in China.
7. Chinese culinary culture.
8. Traditional Chinese architecture, such as the Hutong胡同 and the Yuanlin 园林.
9. Chinese etiquette.
10. Major Chinese philosophies and religions include Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism.
11. Key figures in the cross-cultural dialogue between China and the West include Matteo Ricci, Gabriele M. Allegro, and Thomas Merton.
12. Chinese spirituality, with meditation, Zen, and contemplation practices.
13. Traditional Chinese medicine, with a discussion of the concept of well-being between China and Italy.
14. Traditional Chinese music and aesthetic contemplation.
15. Traditional Chinese painting and aesthetic contemplation.
16. A brief history of ideograms.
17. Classical tales and proverbs about filial piety.
18. Chinese classical films
19. Chinese marriage culture

Cultivate the passion and openness of the heart to approach cultures other than one's own, in this case, Chinese culture or East Asian culture.

Develop the ability to share and welcome the richness of another culture.

Promote integral ecology.

Acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to 'bring China to home,' i.e., to introduce Chinese culture to family, friends, acquaintances, clients, and others.

Improve communication skills, both in oral and written form.

Build up the ability to establish fruitful relationships with wisdom and empathy, especially intimate relationships, through intercultural/interreligious dialogue, i.e., cultivating interpersonal relationships.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Teaching

Lectures with opportunities for dialogue. The lectures will discuss themes, categories, and paradigms to understand Chinese and general cultures. The method will consider both a deductive and inductive approach. Urbino's campus and laboratory will collaborate to compare Chinese and Italian cultures, including ancient symbols on gates in Beijing and Urbino.

Attendance

The student is required to:

Authentically participate in discussion and dialogue during class.
Watch films as homework before subsequent lectures.
Read the texts or textbooks chosen by Prof.
Write the reflection paper requested by Prof.

Course books

Obligatory texts:

François Jullien, Essere o vivere: Il pensiero occidentale e il pensiero cinese in venti contrasti, Milano: Feltrinelli, 2016.

M. Ricci, Dieci capitoli di un uomo strano, Quaderni Quodlibet, 2010. 

S. Oppes, Le memorie di fra’ Gabriele M. Allegra ofm. Il «san Girolamo» della Cina, libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2004.

A. Bongiovanni, Il dialogo interreligioso: orientamenti per la formazione, Bologna: Editrice missionaria italiana, 2008.

M. P. Gallagher, Clashing symbols: an introduction to faith and culture, New York; Mahwah (NJ): Paulist Press, 2003.

Optional texts (Two texts among):

A.L. Kroeber & C. Kluckhohn, Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions, Cambridge, Massachusetts, published by the Museum, 1952.

M. Castorina, La cultura cinese: manuale di mediazione linguistica, Milano: Hoepli, 2011.

L. Colangelo, Buone feste! Breve raccolta di storie popolari cinesi, Milano: Hoepli, 2013. 

B. Porter, Road to Heaven: Encounters with Chinese Hermits, Counterpoint; illustrated edition 2009.

T. Merton, La via semplice di Chuang Tzu, Paoline Editoriale libri, 2014.  (la versione in inglese. T. Merton, The Way of Chuang Tzu, New Directions, 2010).

T. Merton, Lo Zen e gli uccelli rapaci, Gribaudi, 2014.

M. Buber, Il cammino dell’uomo, Magnano: Qiqajon, 1991.

S. Rinpoche, The Tibetan Book of Living & Dying, Rider editore, 2008.

Assessment

The exam requires understanding culture, Chinese culture, and dialogue (interfaith and intercultural dialogue). Demonstrating personal interest and passion for specific topics with a summary that conveys them. 

To pass the written exam, students must show they grasp the course fundamentals and can synthesize related knowledge.

Students have to bring artistic objects to interpret their chosen topics. For example, suppose they present the culture of hermitage in China. In that case, they can also include all the images (mountain, silence, trees, among others) in a video they create.

Personal engagement during the course, including frequent participation in discussions, the ability to reflect personally on specific topics with authenticity, the ability to expound on topics chosen by the students or designated verbally by the Prof, as well as competence in scientific research and composition under academic standards, will be considered when awarding grades.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

Study the examination texts, plus three of your choice from those offered.

Attendance

In addition to the mandatory texts, a student who doesn't attend must pick three other recommended texts to study.

Course books

Obligatory texts:

François Jullien, Essere o vivere: Il pensiero occidentale e il pensiero cinese in venti contrasti, Milano: Feltrinelli, 2016.

M. Ricci, Dieci capitoli di un uomo strano, Quaderni Quodlibet, 2010. 

S. Oppes, Le memorie di fra’ Gabriele M. Allegra ofm. Il «san Girolamo» della Cina, libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2004.

A. Bongiovanni, Il dialogo interreligioso: orientamenti per la formazione, Bologna: Editrice missionaria italiana, 2008.

M. P. Gallagher, Clashing symbols: an introduction to faith and culture, New York; Mahwah (NJ): Paulist Press, 2003.

Optional texts (Two texts among):

A.L. Kroeber & C. Kluckhohn, Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions, Cambridge, Massachusetts, published by the Museum, 1952.

M. Castorina, La cultura cinese: manuale di mediazione linguistica, Milano: Hoepli, 2011.

L. Colangelo, Buone feste! Breve raccolta di storie popolari cinesi, Milano: Hoepli, 2013. 

B. Porter, Road to Heaven: Encounters with Chinese Hermits, Counterpoint; illustrated edition 2009.

T. Merton, La via semplice di Chuang Tzu, Paoline Editoriale libri, 2014.  (la versione in inglese. T. Merton, The Way of Chuang Tzu, New Directions, 2010).

T. Merton, Lo Zen e gli uccelli rapaci, Gribaudi, 2014.

M. Buber, Il cammino dell’uomo, Magnano: Qiqajon, 1991.

S. Rinpoche, The Tibetan Book of Living & Dying, Rider editore, 2008.

Assessment

In the oral examination, the student must demonstrate that they understand the course's basic concepts and can synthesize the related knowledge. Students can start with a topic of their choice to make a brief presentation, such as a small lecture. Later, the Professor may indicate another issue for students to respond to.

Students must create/bring some manual/artistic/aesthetic objects (including the paper) to interpret their chosen topics. For example, suppose they present the culture of hermitage in China. In that case, they can also create a video in which all the images (mountain, silence, trees, etc.) must be included.

Please note: Non-frequent students must contact the Prof. via e-mail two weeks before taking the exam.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

1. All students must contact the Prof. two weeks before the exams. If a student will be absent, they are obliged to inform her by email three days before the date set for the exam sessions.

2. Attending class is not mandatory, but for good academic training, students are encouraged to attend class.

3. Due to physical and psychological difficulties, students can discuss the mode of examinations with Prof.